Roberts played a major part in Wrexham’s defensive barrier in the first meeting between the near neighbours earlier in the season, the right-back along with James Jennings, Manny Smith and goalscorer Shaun Pearson ensuring another clean sheet for the Dragons along with goalkeeper Chris Dunn - one of 19 recorded this season

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While enjoying a stunning defensive record - Wrexham’s 28 goals against is by far the best in the fifth tier, the defence has also chipped in with a share of the goals - Pearson (four), Smith (three) and Jennings (three) all on target this term.

Roberts though is yet to find the back of the net for the Dragons, yet he is no stranger to scoring at the Racecourse; or indeed in the cross-border derby.

The 28-year-old was on target 10 years ago while in the yellow of Chester, opening the scoring in a League Two game that would eventually finish 2-2.

Roberts joked he had been on the receiving end of a fair amount of digs from team-mates over his lack of goals, but stood by his insistence that he was the only defender who was not allowed forward for set pieces, although he had often asked manager Dean Keates for the chance.

“If I was going in the box for corners and set piece then it would be playing on my mind not scoring” said Roberts. “But I am the one on the half way line at the minute.

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“To score a first goal for Wrexham, it couldn’t come in a better game could it? But three points is the most important thing, even if it would be nice to break my duck in the derby.”

Both sides head into Sunday’s derby at opposite ends of the National League standings, Wrexham in seventh and looking to maintain a push for promotion, while Chester are fighting for survival at the bottom.

Marcus Bignot’s side are in 22nd heading into the weekend and are six points adrift of Barrow in the final safety place and have played more games than the sides around them.

But Roberts, having featured in the cross-border derby before, knows form and the table count for little giving kick off.

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He added: “They are always feisty and have a good atmosphere and at our place with our fans it is going to be a great noise.

“We are both desperate for the points. They are down there for a reason, but in a derby form always goes out the window, so we are both battling for the three points and hopefully we want it more and can show our quality to get them.”